JOKE ON MINISTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 26, 31 July 1939, Page 3

JOKE ON MINISTER

REMINDER OF A BAN ! (From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 25r Mr. E. S. Spooner, until last Thursday Minister for Local Government and Works, gained publicity this week for another reason than his political revolt. A few years ago, Mr. Spooner, dismayed by the approach to nudity allowed by modern bathing costumes, placed a ban on "brassiere" costumes for women and trunks for men. He will be remembered for that ban long after his really good works have been forgotten. Mr, Spooner last Saturday performed: the ceremony of opening a new park at Woollahra; by, unveiling a flag-draped tablet commemorating the event. He pulled the cord, the draped flags'fell, and to his horror Mr. Spooner unveiled a brief and exceedingly gaudy bathing costume, brassiere top and all. - Mr. Spooner had previously announced his intention of officially openjing the park, his words being greeted by a round of clapping. This clapping j turned to roars of laughter when, the 'bewildered Mr. Spooner spun round and gazed at the bathing- costume dangling from the Mr. Spooner played-the man. Quickly he transformed-pure astonishment I into hearty good humour.'' Still more j quickly he tore the silent reminder of his anti-brassiere legislation from the tablet. Then he announced: "If some of you don't recognise this article, it is the original brassiere costume." Mr. Spooner refused to be parted from the costume. It would, he said, always be a treasured souvenir. ..An officer of the Woolahra council was responsible for placing the costume on the tablet. Proof that he had aldermanic conspirators was given when the council at its next meeting, congratulated its staff on the arrangements for the opening of the park. Nevertheless, the council officer found himself in a quandary. He had borrowed the costume from a department store and when Mr. Spooner "pocketed" it, the perpetrator of the joke was unable to return it. as promised, to the store. Mr. Spooner sportingly surrendered his souvenir when the position was explained to